Validation and Standardization of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in the General Population

Medical Care ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Löwe ◽  
Oliver Decker ◽  
Stefanie Müller ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Dieter Schellberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety

Uncomplicated Depression as Normal Sadness

2016 ◽  
pp. 82-94
Author(s):  
Jerome C. Wakefield ◽  
Allan V. Horwitz ◽  
Lorenzo Lorenzo-Luaces
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
General Population ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Depressive Episodes

About half of all individuals meet the criteria for DSM-defined major depressive disorder (MDD) by the age of 30. These and other considerations suggest that MDD criteria are too inclusive and apply to individuals who are not ill but are experiencing normal sadness. This chapter reviews a research program that attempts to address this issue by examining “uncomplicated depression,” a subcategory of MDD that is hypothesized to consist of false positive diagnoses in which normal sadness is misdiagnosed as MDD. Data on uncomplicated depression suggest that many individuals who currently meet the DSM criteria for MDD are at no greater risk for subsequent depressive episodes, attempting suicide, or development of generalized anxiety disorder than members of the general population. These data suggest that uncomplicated depression is normal sadness, not major depression, and should not be diagnosed as disordered. They thus indicate that current DSM criteria for MDD are overly inclusive.

A twin study of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
M-A. Roy ◽  
M. C. Neale ◽  
N. L. Pedersen ◽  
A. A. Mathé ◽  
K. S. Kendler
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
General Population ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Environmental Determinants ◽  
Twin Registry

SYNOPSISPrevious analyses with a sample of female twins sampled from the general population in Virginia have suggested that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) share their genetic determinants but have partly different environmental determinants. The goal of this report is to examine whether these findings apply to samples that include male as well as female twins and contain high proportions of subjects who had been hospitalized for MD.The subjects were ascertained through two different sources: (i) index probands were ascertained through the Swedish Psychiatric Twin Registry for a diagnosis of unipolar or bipolar affective illness; (ii) control twin probands were ascertained through the Swedish Twin Registry. Subjects were sent questionnaires for the assessment of lifetime history of GAD and MD. Positing multinormal distribution of the liability for GAD and MD, we fitted bivariate models to examine the sources of comorbidity.The full model included additive genetic effects, shared environment and individual-specific environment, as well as scalar and non-scalar sex limitations and different thresholds across genders. The best-fitting model included: (i) a genetic correlation of unity; (ii) no common environment; (iii) an individual-specific environmental correlation of 0·28; (iv) different thresholds across genders, but neither scalar nor non-scalar sex-limitations. A model that included additive and dominant genetic effects and individual-specific environment, with correlation of unity for both additive and dominant genetic effects, provided an equivalent fit.These analyses confirm that GAD and MD share the same genetic factors but that their environmental determinants are mostly distinct. Moreover, the present report supports the feasibility of combining clinically ascertained and general-population samples into a single bivariate analysis.

scholarly journals When Anxiety Actually Hides an Overdose of Missing. The Therapeutic Approach of a Transgenerational Journey

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3sup1) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Mioara Grigoraş ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Unrealistic Expectations

Many people suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, statistics showing that 1 in 3 people have their lives affected because of these worrying and annoying symptoms. One of the most common anxiety disorders observed in general medical practice and in the general population is the generalized anxiety disorder. In about 85% of cases, generalized anxiety does not appear alone, but is accompanied by other psychological problems, of which the most common are: depression, other anxiety disorders, substance abuse, digestive problems, etc. The patient diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) usually has suffered from severe anxiety and worries about several different areas of their life for at least six months. It occurs in 5-9% of the population, and the incidence is twice as high in women as in men. Generalized anxiety usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. GAG is caused by several factors: 30%-50% of it can be genetic in nature, but it also can be caused by experiences during childhood, recent stressful life events, unrealistic expectations about others and oneself, conflicts in relationships, alcohol consumption, coping skills and other factors (Ciubara et al., 2018). Studies show that the anxiety levels in the general population have risen over the past 50 years - probably due to declining social cohesion affecting communities, unrealistic expectations for quality of life, excessive focus on negative news, and other factors, social and cultural aspects.

Prevalence, characteristics and comorbidities of anxiety disorders in France: Results from the “Mental Health in General Population” Survey (MHGP)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 339-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Leray ◽  
A. Camara ◽  
D. Drapier ◽  
F. Riou ◽  
N. Bougeant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Generalized Anxiety

AbstractPurposeOnly a few European countries have carried out large, community-based, national surveys about psychiatric morbidity. Here is presented the first national French survey, aiming to estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders and associated comorbidities according to sociodemographic characteristics.Materials and methodsThe Mental Health in General Population (MHGP) database is derived from a representative national survey of the French adult population (n = 36,105), conducted between 1999 and 2003. Data collection was done using an anonymous face-to-face interview. The presence of anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder) was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anxiety disorders was estimated to be 21.6%, generalized anxiety disorder being the most prevalent one (12.8%). Women, young people, and people earning low income were identified as the more at risk. Major depressive episode, alcohol abuse and drug addiction frequently co-occur with anxiety disorders (28.3, 4.4 and 2.8% respectively).ConclusionsThe MHGP study showed that anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in France with a high frequency of comorbidities. Our results highlight the need for considering anxiety disorders as a public health priority in France as well as in other European countries.

scholarly journals Mental health of people living with HIV during the COVID-19 epidemic in Tokyo

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Tanaka ◽  
Michiko Koga ◽  
Tomoe Senkoji ◽  
Megumi Kubota ◽  
Kazuhiko Ikeuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Distress Scale

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts physical health and mental health. People living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than the general population. We examined the mental health of PLWH during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Methods We retrospectively examined the medical records of PLWHs who underwent the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 at an HIV referral hospital in Tokyo. Stringency Index (SI) values were used to measure the intensity of social infection control measures. Results Between February 2020-May 2021, 30 PLWH were examined at least once. The median age was 49 years, 29 PLWH were on antiretroviral therapy, and the median CD4 count was 580.5/µL. A total of 30% of the patients experienced distress, 45% depression, and 21.4% generalized anxiety disorder. Fourteen PLWH were taken for a median of four tests (IQR:2.0-7.3) and classified into three types: 1) Moderate distress or mild depression or anxiety at the beginning that decreased gradually (six patients, 43%), 2) persistent severe distress, but moderate depression or anxiety gradually decreased (six patients, 43%), and 3) extremely severe distress and depression or anxiety continued to syncope with the SI values (two patients, 14%). Having no partners, unemployment, and a history of psychiatric diseases were more commonly observed in the highly severe mental health groups. Conclusions PLWH are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic than the general population, especially those with substantial social isolation. Attention should be paid to the mental health of PLWH.

scholarly journals The GAD-7 and the PHQ-8 exhibit the same mathematical pattern of item responses in the general population: analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichiro Tomitaka ◽  
Toshiaki A. Furukawa
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
National Health ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Item Responses ◽  
Interview Survey

Abstract Background Recent studies have shown that, among the general population, responses to depression-rating scales follow a common mathematical pattern. However, the mathematical pattern among responses to the items of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is currently unknown. The present study investigated whether item responses to the GAD-7, when administered to the general population, follow the same mathematical distribution as those of depression-rating scales. Methods We used data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (31,997 individuals), which is a nationwide survey of adults conducted annually in the United States. The patterns of item responses to the GAD-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), respectively, were analyzed inductively. Results For all GAD-7 items, the frequency distribution for each response option (“not at all,” “several days,” “more than half the days,” and “nearly every day,” respectively) was positively skewed. Line charts representing the responses to each GAD-7 item all crossed at a single point between “not at all” and “several days” and, on a logarithmic scale, showed a parallel pattern from “several days” to “nearly every day.” This mathematical pattern among the item responses was identical to that of the PHQ-8. This characteristic pattern of the item responses developed because the values for the “more than half the days” to “several days” ratio were similar across all items, as were the values for the “nearly every day” to “more than half the days” ratio. Conclusions Our results suggest that the symptom criteria of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression have a common distribution pattern in the general population.

scholarly journals Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in Elite Athletes

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
General Population ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Specific Phobias

Anxiety is in principle a normal and (often) helpful emotion in humans and animals. However, anxiety can get excessive and be impairing and disabling. If anxiety is excessive in intensity and duration, occurs in actually non-dangerous situations, uncontrollable, and impairs actions, an anxiety disorder is typically diagnosed [2]. In the general population, the following anxiety disorders are diagnosed (decreasing frequency): specific phobias, social anxiety disorders, panic disorder with/without agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder [3,4]. In elite athletes the specific subform of performance anxiety disorder could be diagnosed, although it is not yet included in the diagnostic manuals [5,6].

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